Effectiveness of invertebrate pest-control agents

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to the promotion of a continuous chemical barrier of a soil-born invertebrate pest control agent in soil in a locus where soil-borne invertebrate pests are suspected or known to exist. In particular the present invention relates to compositions of liquid soil-borne invertebrate pest control agents and selected adjuvants wherein the adjuvant improves the downward and lateral movement in the soil of the soil-born invertebrate pest control agent contained in the liquid soil-borne invertebrate pest control agent. The invention set forth herein finds particular utility with soil-born invertebrate pest control agents with a water solubility of 3 ppm, or less, such as bifenthrin.

The present invention relates generally to pesticidal compositions. Inparticular, it pertains to compositions of liquid invertebratepest-control agents useful for control of soil-borne invertebrate pests.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Soil-borne invertebrate pests, i.e., arthropods (crustaceans, arachnids,and insects) and nematodes, cause untold billions of dollars worth ofdamage throughout the world to crops, dwellings, and structures usefulto humankind. Soil-borne insects attack the seeds and seedlings of mostcrops. For example, black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon-Hufnagel) commonlyfeeds on seedlings of, for example, corn, at ground level, cutting offthe stem and sometimes dragging the plants into their burrows. Most ofthe plant is not consumed but merely eaten enough to cause it to topple.Since the larvae occur burrowed near the roots of the host, it sometimesfeeds on roots and the below-ground stem. Because of the nature of theirfeeding on young plants, this pest can do great damage in newly plantedfields. Corn plants that are too large for larvae to cut through mayhave a hole bored into the stem. Large populations can decimate anentire field of corn seedlings. Yield losses to uncontrolled blackcutworm can be as high as 25%.

Nematodes are among the most destructive plant-parasitic soil-borneorganisms on a wide range of plants. For example, sting nematodes(Beloizolainus longigicaudatus) are ectoparasites of plant roots, wherethey remain in the soil and feed by inserting a long stylet or mouthspear into root tips. The nematodes then inject enzymes into roottissues and suck plant juices out through the stylet. Root tipstypically cease growing in response to feeding by sting nematodes. Stingnematodes cause particular damage to young plants with a developing rootsystem. Sting nematodes cause yield losses in many crops and can causecomplete crop destruction with severe infestations. Damaged cropsinclude vegetables (carrot, corn, crucifers, beans, potato, etc.),fruits (citrus, strawberry, etc.), agronomic crops (cotton, peanut,sorghum, soybean, etc.), turfgrasses (Bahiagrass, Bermudagrass, St.Augustinegrass, zoysiagrass, etc.) and forest crops (pine trees).

Termites, however, are undisputedly the most destructive of allsoil-borne invertebrate pests. Termites are estimated to cause 1.5billion dollars of damage to wooden structures and dwellings annually,and that an additional one billion dollars is spent on treatment.Depending on the type of termite, a colony can cover as much as 22,000square feet. These industrious insects work 24 hours a day, graduallyeating wood and any other cellulose containing material in theirenvironment. Since they remain hidden within the wood in which they arefeeding, in mud tubes, or in the soil, they typically wreak havocundetected. There are two types of termites, described as i) dry woodtermites, and ii) subterranean termites. Of these two types, thesubterranean termites usually live in the soil (i.e., soil-borne), fromwhich they build mud tubes to structural wood where they then feed.

Control of soil-borne invertebrate pests can be accomplished bystrategic application of at least one invertebrate pest-control agent tothe soil in a locus where there is an invertebrate pest infestation.When the invertebrate pest is termites, a standard method for placingthe termiticide in the soil is by physical means. Such physical meansinclude, inter alia, (1) the digging of trenches around the outside of astructure, then flooding the trenches with termiticide, or (2) byinjecting the termiticide directly into the soil using a mechanicaldevice, such as a soil rod. These methods are very labor-intensive, andrequire an inordinate amount of termiticide to be effective. Anothermethod for control of soil-borne termites is by the application of atermiticide directly to the surface of soil, thereby in theory creatinga chemical barrier in the soil when the termiticide leaches into thesoil.

Invertebrate pest control agents having utility in application directlyto the surface of soil are in the form of liquid invertebrate pestcontrol agents. A liquid invertebrate pest control agent is defined as acomposition comprised of a formulation containing an invertebrate pestcontrol agent where the formulation is dispensed in an aqueous mediumprior to its application to a locus where invertebrate pest control isneeded. For example, a liquid termiticide is therefore defined as acomposition comprised of a formulation containing a termiticide wherethe formulation is dispensed in an aqueous medium prior to itsapplication to a locus where termite control is needed.

Examples of formulations that can be dispensed in aqueous medium toprovide a liquid invertebrate pest control agent include, withoutlimitation, formulations of bifenthrin, sold by FMC Corporation underthe names and trademarks of TALSTAR® GC FLOWABLE INSECTICIDE/MITICIDE,or TALSTAR® TERMITICIDE/INSECTICIDE. However, the invertebrate pestcontrol agent in most liquid invertebrate pest control agents preparedfrom these formulations are not particularly mobile in the soil. That isto say, the invertebrate pest control agent does not appreciably spreaddownwardly and laterally from its point of application on the surface ofthe soil. Reasons for the immobility of such invertebrate pest controlagents when placed on the soil include, inter alia, (1) the limitedwater solubility of the invertebrate pest control agent, for example, ofabout 3 parts per million (ppm) or less, and (2) the tendency of theinvertebrate pest control agent to bind to the soil. Consequently when aliquid invertebrate pest control agent containing such relativelywater-insoluble, soil-binding invertebrate pest control agents areapplied to the soil, there may be gaps, or thinly treated areas, in thedesired continuous chemical barrier caused by the immobility of theinvertebrate pest control agent in the soil. Soil-borne insects such astermites, therefore, can gain access to food sources/structures throughgaps and thinly treated areas in the chemical barrier. To aid inproviding the continuous chemical barrier in the soil, a method and/orcompositions of liquid invertebrate pest control agents that promoteincreased downward and lateral movement of relatively water-insoluble,soil-binding invertebrate pest control agents is clearly needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objects of the present invention therefore include 1) promotion of acontinuous chemical barrier to prevent access of soil-borne invertebratepests to their food sources by use of novel compositions of liquidinvertebrate pest control agents and at least one adjuvant, in which theadjuvant promotes an increase in downward and lateral movement in thesoil of the invertebrate pest control agent that is contained in theliquid invertebrate pest control agent, and 2) a method of controllingsoil-borne invertebrate pests using the novel compositions.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention are compositionscontaining a liquid invertebrate pest control agent, and at least oneadjuvant, where the liquid invertebrate pest control agent furtherincludes at least one invertebrate pest control agent having a watersolubility of about 3 ppm or less in which the adjuvant promotes atleast a 20% increase in the downward and lateral movement of theinvertebrate pest control agent in soil. Other aspects of the presentinvention will also be apparent.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It has now been unexpectedly found that when at least one of a selectnumber of adjuvants is added to a liquid invertebrate pest controlagent, the downward and lateral movement in the soil of the invertebratepest control agent contained therein is increased. The addition of atleast one adjuvant to a liquid invertebrate pest control agent providesnovel compositions that aid in promoting a continuous chemical barrierto invertebrate pests in the soil around a crop, or around a structureor dwelling. Specifically, the novel compositions are those containing aliquid soil-borne pest control agent and at least one adjuvant, wherethe liquid soil-borne pest control agent further includes at least onesoil-borne pest control agent having a water solubility of about 3 ppm,or less, in which the adjuvant promotes at least a 20% increase indownward and lateral movement of the soil-borne invertebrate pestcontrol agent in soil. Preferably, the adjuvant promotes at least a 30%increase in downward and lateral of the soil-borne invertebrate pestcontrol agent.

As set forth above, a liquid soil-borne invertebrate pest control agentis comprised of any formulation containing an invertebrate pest controlagent where the formulation is dispensed in an aqueous medium prior toits application to a locus where soil-borne invertebrate pest control isneeded. That is to say, a liquid invertebrate pest control agent iscomprised of 1) a formulation of an invertebrate pest control agent, and2) an aqueous medium. There may be more than one formulation for aparticular invertebrate pest control agent, depending upon how thatinvertebrate pest control agent is to be used to control soil-borneinvertebrate pests. The compositions of the present invention arepreferably derived from commercially available formulations ofinvertebrate pest control agents, although they do not necessarily needto be derived from such formulations. All formulations of invertebratepest control agents that are dispensed in an aqueous medium prior toapplication are, therefore, within the scope of the present invention.Preferred are those formulations of invertebrate pest control agents inwhich the invertebrate pest control agent contained therein isrelatively insoluble in water, i.e., has solubility in water of 3 ppm,or less. Without limitation, a few of these formulations and the activeinvertebrate pest control agent contained therein are set forth below:Examples of Formulations From Which a Liquid Invertebrate PestInvertebrate Pest Control Agent May be Derived by Control Agent InDispensing the Formulation in an Aqueous Medium Formulation ManufacturedBy: TRIBUTE ® Termiticide/Insecticide Concentrate Fenvalerate AgrEvoEnvironmental Health, Inc. TALSTAR ® TERMITICIDE/INSECTICIDE BifenthrinFMC Corporation TALSTAR ® GC FLOWABLE INSECTICIDE/ Bifenthrin FMCCorporation MITICIDE DRAGNET ® FT TERMITICIDE/INSECTICIDE Permethrin FMCCorporation PREVAIL ® FT TERMITICIDE Cypermethrin FMC CorporationPHANTOM ® Termiticide/Insecticide Chlorfenapyr American CyanamidTERMIDOR ® SC Termiticide Fipronil Aventis Enviornmental ScienceDURSBAN ® TC Termiticide Chlorpyrifos Dow AgroSciences DELTAGARD ® TCTermiticide Deltamethrin AgrEvo Environmental Health, Inc. BAYTHROID ® 2Emulsifiable Cyfluthrin Bayer Corporation Pyrethroid InsecticideKARATE ® with ZEON Lambda Cyhalothrin Syngenta Crop TECHNOLOGY ™Protection, Inc. FORCE ® INSECTICIDE Tefluthrin Syngenta CropProtection, Inc.

Those invertebrate pest control agents having a water solubility ofabout 3 ppm, or less that find utility in the present invention arefenvalerate, bifenthrin, permethrin, cypermethrin, chlorfenapyr,fipronil, chlorpyrifos, deltamethrin, cyfluthrin, lambda cyhalothrin,gamma cyhalothrin, tefluthrin, and their isomers, which includes opticalenantiomorphs, diastereomers, and polymorphs, and mixtures thereof.Preferred invertebrate pest control agents in the context of the presentinvention are bifenthrin, permethrin, fenvalerate, cypermethrin,deltamethrin, their isomers, and mixtures thereof, and particularlypreferred is bifenthrin.

As set forth above, the preferred soil-borne invertebrate pest controlagents are members of the pyrethroid class of chemical compounds usefulas, for example, insecticides/termiticides. It is expected that the soilmobility of all pyrethroids would be improved by invertebrate pestcontrol compositions, and applications thereof, according to the presentinvention. Such pyrethroid compounds, in addition to those set forthabove, include, without limitation, acrinathrin, allethrin,bioallethrin, barthrin, bioethanomethrin, cyclethrin, cycloprothrin,cyhalothrin, cyphenotrin, deltamethrin, dimethrin, empenthrin,fenfluthrin, fenpirithrin, fenpropathrin, fenvalerate, flucythrinate,fluvalinate, furethrin, imiprothrin, phenothrin, prallethrin,pyresmethrin, resmethrin, terallethrin, tetramethrin, tralomethrin,transfluthrin, transfluthrin, etofenprox, flufenprox, halfenprox,protrifenbute, silafluofen, and their isomers, which includes opticalenantiomorphs, diastereomers, and polymorphs.

It is also expected that the soil mobility of invertebrate pest controlagents with a water solubility higher than 3 ppm would also be improvedby applications according to the present invention. For, example, onesuch invertebrate pest control agent is imidacloprid (water solubility610 ppm), sold under the name and trademark of PREMISE® 75 INSECTICIDEin water-soluble bags, by Bayer Corporation.

It is also expected that the novel compositions of invertebrate pestcontrol agents of the present invention would have utility for theprotection of a host of commodities useful to humankind, albeit crops,structures, or dwellings, against a variety of soil-borne invertebratepests. In addition to protection of structures or dwellings against, forexample, termites, crops finding protection from soil-borne invertebratepests by the use of the novel compositions of the present inventioninclude, without limitation, root and tuber crops, such as potato,carrots, sweet potato, beets, and turnip to name a few; corn, beans,broccoli, cabbage, spinach, sugarcane, tomato, and trees, as well asmany other crops.

Soil-borne invertebrate pests controlled by the novel compositions ofthe present invention include, without limitation, termites, nematodes,pillbugs, millipedes, centipedes, earwigs, seed corn maggot, cornrootworms, such as southern corn rootworm, western corn rootworm,Mexican corn rootworm, and spotted corn rootworm; white grubs,wireworms, corn root aphids, cutworms, such as black cutworm, granulatecutworm, and varigated cutworm; june beetles, chafers, hunting billbugs,lesser cornstalk borer, mole crickets, such as tawny mole cricket andsouthern mole cricket; white-fringed beetle, seed corn beetles; ants,such as thief ants, and cornfield ants; corn root aphids, sod webworm,as well as other soil-borne invertebrate pests. Preferably, the novelcompositions of the present invention are useful in a locus encompassingi) structures and dwellings where protection from termites is desiredand ii) crops, such as corn, and root and tuber crops, where protectionfrom corn rootworms; and wireworms and nematodes, respectively, isdesired.

As set forth above, when at least one of a selected number of adjuvantswere added to a liquid invertebrate pest control agent prior to itsapplication to soil, the downward and lateral movement in the soil ofthe invertebrate pest control agent contained therein was unexpectedlyincreased following application of the liquid invertebrate pest controlagent to the soil. Adjuvants finding utility in promoting movement of aninvertebrate pest control agent in the soil include, without limitation,the following:

-   -   (i) An emulsifier of 99%        2,4,6-tris[1-(phenyl)ethyl]phenyl-omega-hydroxy-poly(oxyethylene)sulphate—sold        under the name and trademark of Soprophorm™ 4D-384 by        Rhone-Poulenc, Inc., Prospect Plains Road, Cranbury, N.J. 08512        USA;    -   (ii) A nonionic surfactant of 100% perfluoroalkylethanol—sold        under the name and trademark of Fluowet OTN by Clariant, 2724        Springfount Trail, Lawrenceville, Ga. 30043;    -   (iii) A spray tank adjuvant blend of 83% highly refined        paraffin-based petroleum oil and 17% alkyl and        alkylarylpolyoxyethylene glycols—sold under the name and        trademark of Drexel Activate Oil by Drexel Chemical Company, PO        Box 9306. Memphis, Tenn. 38109-0306;    -   (iv) A nonionic surfactant of modified polysiloxane        polyether—sold under the name and trademark of Break Thru S240        by Goldschmidt Chemical Corp., PO Box 1299, 914 East Randolph        Road, Hopewell, Va. 23860;    -   (v) A non-ionic surfactant blend of        alkyloxypolyethyleneoxyethanols of the formula        CH₃CH[(CH₂)_(n)CH₃][O(C₂H₄O)_(m)H] where n is 9-15, and m is        3-40—sold under the name and trademark of SM-9 by Safe        Materials, Inc, Valdosta, Ga.;    -   (vi) A silicone surfactant 100% blend of        2-(3-hydroxypropyl)heptamethyltrisiloxane, ethoxylated acetate,        allyloxypolyethylene glycol monally1 acetate, and polyethylene        glycol diacetate—sold under the name and trademark of Sylgard®        309 by Wilber-Ellis Company, PO Box 16458, Fresno, Calif. 93755;    -   (vii) A biodegradable, low-foaming, non-ionic surfactant and        penetrant containing primary alkyl polyoxyethylene ether and        free fatty acids and adjuvants—sold under the name and trademark        of Activator 90 by Loveland Industries, Inc., PO Box 1289,        Greeley, Colo. 80632.

(viii) A nonionic surfactant blend of soybean based fatty acid andalcohol ethoxylates—sold under the name and trademark of Preference NISby Cenex/Land O'Lakes Agronomy Company of St. Paul, Minn.;

-   -   (ix) An anionic surfactant blend of 58% ammonium linear alcohol        ether sulfate—sold under the name and trademark of Rhodapex®        CD-128 by Rhone-Poulenc, Inc., Prospect Plains Road, Cranbury,        N.J. 08512 USA;    -   (x) An anionic surfactant blend of 58% ammonium nonylphenol        ether sulfate—sold under the name and trademark of Rhodapex®        CO-436 by Rhone-Poulenc, Inc., Prospect Plains Road, Cranbury,        N.J. 08512 USA;    -   (xi) A blend of polyalkyleneoxide, modified        polydimethylsiloxane, and nonionic surfactants—sold under the        name and trademark of Thoroughbred by Estes Incorporated,        Wichita Falls, Tex. 76303;    -   (xii) A nonionic detergent of 100% polyoxyethylene(10)        isooctylcyclohexyl ether—sold under the name and trademark of        Triton® X-100 by Aldrich Chemical Company, Inc., 1001 West Saint        Paul Ave., Milwaukee, Wis. 53233; and mixtures thereof.

[Hereinafter Designated by Roman Numerals (i)-(xii)]

Preferred adjuvants selected from the above are (i), (ii), (iv), (v),(vi), (x), (xi), (xii), and mixtures thereof. More preferred adjuvantsin the context of the present invention are (i), (ii), (xi), andmixtures thereof; and most preferred is adjuvant (i).

The compositions of the present invention were preferably derived fromcommercially available formulations of invertebrate pest control agents.For example, bifenthrin, sold by FMC Corporation under the names andtrademarks of TALSTAR® GC FLOWABLE INSECTICIDE/MITICIDE, or TALSTAR®TERMITICIDE/INSECTICIDE, to name a few, find utility in the presentinvention. For example, using methods known to one skilled in the art,the formulation of invertebrate pest control agent was dispersed in anaqueous medium to provide a composition containing a pesticidallyeffective amount of the invertebrate pest control agent. To promotemovement of the invertebrate pest control agent, such as bifenthrin, inthe soil, an amount of adjuvant in the range of about 0.001% to about30% by volume of the composition as prepared above, was added to thecomposition prior to its application to the surface of the soil.Preferably, the amount of adjuvant added to the composition ofinvertebrate pest control agent is in the range of about 0.01% to about5% by volume, and more preferably, in the range of 0.08% to about 3% byvolume.

A particularly preferred composition of the present invention is thatwhere the invertebrate pest control agent in the liquid invertebratepest control agent is bifenthrin, and the adjuvant added to the liquidinvertebrate pest control agent is at least one adjuvant selected fromi), ii), and xi), or mixtures thereof, where the concentration of theadjuvant is in the range of about 0.08% to about 3% by volume of thecomposition. In a particularly preferred composition, adjuvant (i) ismost preferred.

The following examples further illustrate the present invention, but, ofcourse, should not be construed as in any way limiting its scope. Theexamples set forth certain biological data illustrating the efficacy ofthe compositions of the present invention in enhancing the downward andlateral movement of an invertebrate pest control agent when applied tosoil when compared to the same downward and lateral movement of aninvertebrate pest control agent without the adjuvants of the presentinvention. Unless otherwise indicated, all parts, percentages, and thelike are by weight.

EXAMPLE 1 Test to Determine Downward Movement of Bifenthrin PlusAdjuvant

The compositions of the present invention were tested for soil mobilityby assessing the depth of penetration into soil of the invertebrate pestcontrol agent contained therein by first placing the compositions of thepresent invention onto the top of columns of soil, followed byintroduction of termites to the bottom of the columns of soil, thenmeasuring the length of termite tunneling up into the soil. The depth ofpenetration into soil of the invertebrate pest control agent istherefore inversely proportional to the length of termite tunneling upinto the soil. Specifically, the tests were conducted as follows:

Liquid invertebrate pest control agents in combination with certainadjuvants were tested for enhanced movement in soil of the invertebratepest control agent contained therein, as compared to the movement in thesoil of the invertebrate pest control agent alone without the adjuvant.These tests were conducted using a method adapted from Su et al, J.Econ. Entomology, 88: 1690-1694 (1995), as follows:

A test composition made up of TALSTAR® TERMITICIDE/INSECTICIDE indistilled water was prepared that provided a 0.06% (wt/v) suspension ofbifenthrin. Measured aliquots of the bifenthrin suspension were thenmixed with the requisite amount of a test adjuvant to provide 0.1% and0.5% (v/v) solutions of the adjuvant.

Glass tubing, 13 mm in diameter, was then cut into 20 cm sections insufficient quantity to conduct the test. Each 20 mm section of tubingwas marked at 5 cm, 8 cm, and 18 cm distances from one end of the tubedesignated as the bottom. Each section of tubing was packed with a sandysoil (3% wt/wt moisture content) by first placing a section of a 1 cmdiameter wooden dowel into the bottom of the glass tube up to the 8 cmmarking, then introducing approximately 2 cm of soil into the other endof the tube designated as the top. The soil was then gently packed intothe tube from the top using a second section of the 1 cm diameter woodendowel. The process was repeated using 2 cm aliquots of soil until thesoil level was adjacent to the 18 cm marking, thereby providing a columnof soil 10 cm in height. An agar plug, which was formed in a section ofthe 13 mm diameter glass tubing of the type used to conduct these tests,was cut into 3 cm sections. A 3 cm section of agar was then gentlypushed into the bottom of each tube containing the soil until the agarplug firmly touched the soil at the 8 cm marking, thereby creating a 5cm void in the bottom of each section of tubing. Following placement ofthe agar plugs in each section of tubing; two sections of applicatorsticks cut in 6 cm lengths were inserted into the bottom end of eachtube thereby forcing about 1 cm of each stick into the agar plug to holdthe agar plug in place. Plastic caps, with an inside diameter of 13 mmand holes drilled in their centers, were placed on the bottom ends ofeach of the sections of tubing. A sharpened applicator stick was theninserted into the hole in each plastic cap through the agar plug to theintersection of the agar plug and the soil. The applicator stick wasthen gently removed in a rotating manner to provide a means for a freeflow of liquid through the soil. Each section of tubing was then stoodupright, and 0.5 mL aliquots of each suspension of bifenthrin containing0.1% and 0.5% of the test adjuvant, as prepared above, were pipettedonto the top of the soil. At least four replicates for eachconcentration of adjuvant were provided. In addition, there was alsoprovided a similar number of replicates of a 0.6% suspension ofbifenthrin alone, and also untreated controls. Upon application of thetest suspensions of bifenthrin and test adjuvants, the top of eachsection of tubing was covered with a small piece of aluminum foil. Thetubes were then allowed to stand for about 20 hours to allow movement ofthe bifenthrin and test adjuvant downward into the soil. After this timea plastic cap of 13 mm inside diameter was placed on the top of eachsection of tubing. The plastic caps with the holes drilled in theircenters were removed from the bottom of each section of tubing, and apiece of 0.5 cm×4 cm filter paper was then placed between the twosections of applicator sticks. Fifty termite (Reticulitermes flavipes)workers were then inserted into the 5 cm void in the bottom of eachsection of tubing. New plastic caps without holes drilled in theircenters were placed on the bottom of each section of tubing. Thesections of tubing were then stored in an upright position, with thetermites located below the soil. At 7 and 21 days post-infestation,termite mortality and distance of termite tunneling up into the soil wasmeasured. The measurements were used to calculate a percent reduction oftermite tunneling in the sections of tubing containing bifenthrin andtest adjuvant as compared to termite tunneling in sections of tubingcontaining bifenthrin alone. The following results were recorded: TABLE1 Soil Movement of Bifenthrin Plus Adjuvant as Compared to BifenthrinAlone Measured By Percent Reduction in Termite Tunneling 7 Days 21 DaysRate of Appln. Percent Percent Adjuvant Adjuvant Tunneling Red'n ofPercent Tunneling Red'n of Percent Added (% v/v) (cm) TunnelingMortality (cm) Tunneling Morality None 0 7.2 — 0 7.4 — 0 (i) 0.1 4.340.3 0 4.4 40.5 0 0.5 3.8 47.2 75 3.8 48.6 75 None 0 7.1 — 17 7.2 — 28(i) 0.1 5.4 23.9 5.5 23.6 38 2^(nd) Test 0.5 2.7 62.0 68 2.7 63.5 71None 0 7.0 — 25 7.0 — 50 (ii) 0.1 5.0 28.6 25 6.6 5.7 25 0.5 3.8 45.7 663.8 45.7 100 None 0 7.3 — 25 7.3 — 25 (ii) 0.1 7.0 4.1 25 7.1 2.7 652^(nd) Test 0.5 6.1 16.4 0 6.1 16.4 100 None 0 7.4 — 0 7.5 — 25 (ii) 0.16.1 17.6 75 6.2 17.3 75 3rd Test 0.5 5.1 32.4 1 5.1 32.0 50 None 0 6.8 —0 6.9 — 0 (ii) 0.1 6.6 5.9 0 6.7 2.9 100 4th Test 0.5 2.6 61.8 0 2.760.9 100 None 0 5.9 — 33 6.4 — 51 (ii) 0.1 3.9 33.9 36 4.9 23.4 37 5thTest 0.5 2.0 66.1 42 2.9 54.7 92 None 0 7.6 — 52 7.6 — 100 (iii) 0.1 7.25.3 75 7.2 5.3 100 0.5 6.0 21.1 26 6.1 19.7 75 None 0 7.3 — 25 7.3 — 25(iii) 0.1 6.2 15.1 52 6.2 15.1 74 2^(nd) Test None 0 6.6 — 26 6.6* — 51(iii) 0.1 6.4 3.0 0 6.5* 1.5 25 3rd Test 0.5 5.8 12.1 28 5.9* 10.6 50None 0 7.2 — 0 7.4 — 0 (iii) 0.1 6.1 15.3 28 6.3 14.9 50 4th Test None 06.9 — 17 6.9 — 18 (iii) 0.1 6.2 10.1 0 6.3 8.7 0 5th Test 0.25 6.2 10.142 6.2 10.1 50 None 0 7.0 — 25 7.0 — 50 (iv) 0.1 4.8 31.4 25 5.0 28.6 250.5 3.6 48.6 0 3.6 48.6 0 None 0 7.6 — 52 7.6 — 100 (v) 0.1 5.0 34.2 755.0 34.2 100 0.5 4.3 43.4 77 4.3 43.4 100 None 0 7.3 — 25 7.3 — 25 (v)0.5 3.8 47.9 0 3.8 47.9 5 2^(nd) Test None 0 7.5 — 1 7.5 — 25 (vi) 0.13.6 52.0 25 3.7 50.7 25 0.5 5.4 28.0 0 5.4 28.0 66 None 0 7.5 — 1 7.5 —25 (vii) 0.1 5.5 26.7 25 5.5 26.7 25 0.5 4.4 41.3 0 4.4 41.3 26 None 07.5 — 1 7.5 — 25 (viii) 0.1 5.2 30.7 0 5.5 26.7 25 0.5 4.2 44.0 0 4.244.0 0 None 0 7.2 — 0 7.4 — 0 (ix) 0.1 6.7 6.9 25 6.8 8.1 50 0.5 4.340.3 50 4.3 41.9 75 None 0 7.2 — 0 7.4 — 0 (x) 0.1 4.4 38.9 25 4.4 40.576 0.5 3.4 52.8 0 3.5 52.7 70 None 0 6.2 — 25 6.7 — 50 (xi) 0.1 4.2 32.30 4.4 34.3 33 0.5 1.6 74.2 0 2.8 58.2 25 None 0 6.2 — 25 6.7 — 50 (xii)0.1 4.2 32.3 25 4.2 37.3 25 0.5 3.4 45.2 75 3.4 49.3 75*Results recorded at 22 days

A study of the table of data presented above indicates that all of theadjuvants in certain tests, except adjuvant (iii), reduced termitetunneling by at least 40%, which is indicative of the improved movementof the invertebrate pest control agent in soil. For example, testsconducted with adjuvants (i), (ii), (iv), (v), (vi), (x), (xi), and(xii) reduced termite tunneling by at least 48%, and tests conductedwith adjuvants (i), (ii), and (xi) reduced termite tunneling by at least58%.

EXAMPLE 2 Test to Determine Downward and Lateral Movement of BifenthrinPlus Adjuvant

Downward and lateral movement in the soil of the invertebrate pestcontrol agent bifenthrin was measured. These test were conducted using a30.5 cm×30.5 cm wooden boxes. The boxes were made up of a series ofstacked square wooden frames (30.5 cm×30.5 cm×1.9 cm), which could bestacked to any desired depth. These frames were stacked inside an outersupport housing to maintain the box's structural integrity. It wasdetermined that 10% soil moisture was an ideal range to evaluate themovement of soil applied invertebrate pest control agent for thePrinceton 50/50 (sand:soil) soil. The soil moisture was altered byadding the appropriate amount of water to air-dried soil in a mixer (arotating 5 gallon container) and mixing it until the soil was uniformlymoist. The soil was then removed from the mixer and placed into a sealedbucket until enough soil was collected to fill a box. The moistened soilwas added to the box in small amounts (˜500 mL each scoop) and packeddown using a wooden block (30.5 cm×30.5 cm×2.5 cm) and a rubber mallet.Once enough soil was added to fill the box to the desired depth, thecenter of the box is determined and a 5 cm circle was marked in thesoil. The treatments were then applied to the soil by dripping thesolutions from separatory funnels onto the 5 cm circle in the center ofeach box. The flow was adjusted so that each solution was appliedwithout allowing it to spill out of the 5 cm treatment area.

The soil was treated with one of four treatments. The first was a liquidinvertebrate pest control agent containing TALSTAR® GC FLOWABLEINSECTICIDE/MITICIDE alone, at a rate equivalent to the field rate (4gallons of a 0.06% active ingredient of bifenthrin suspension per 10linear feet). The second was the above-mentioned liquid invertebratepest control agent plus adjuvant (i), at a rate of 0.5% (v/v). The thirdwas the above-mentioned liquid invertebrate pest control agent plusadjuvant (ii), described below, at a rate of 0.5% (v/v), and the fourthwas the above-mentioned liquid invertebrate pest control agent plusadjuvant (iii), described below, at a rate of 0.5% (v/v).

Once the treatments were applied, the boxes were covered with plasticbags to prevent moisture loss. The treated soils remained undisturbedfor 24 hours to allow for maximum bifenthrin movement before they werecross-sectioned and infested with termites.

After 24 hours, the treated soils were then cross-sectioned by placing awooden block (30.5 cm×30.5 cm×2.5 cm) on the soil surface and applyingpressure to the block while pushing metal sheets between the woodenframes and slicing through the soil. This provided cross-sections thatwere 1.9 cm in depth and 30.5 cm×30.5 cm square. The soil cross-sectionswere then removed from the boxes, one at a time, and a plastic grid wasplaced upon the soil surface of each cross-section and lightly tappedinto place. This procedure was repeated until all of the desiredcross-sections were removed.

The center of each grid was then marked and the grids were then removedfrom the soil surface. Soil samples were then taken from eachcross-section in a “+” pattern so that bifenthrin movement could bemeasured in all four directions, i.e., laterally from the point ofapplication of bifenthrin.

Soil samples (ca. 3.2 cm×3.2 cm) were carefully removed and placed intoindividually labeled petri dishes (50×9 mm). Five worker termites(Coptotermes formosanus) were then added to each petri dish. The disheswere placed in an environmentally controlled chamber at 25° C. for 24hours. Mortality was then recorded for each dish so that a threedimensional picture of bifenthrin soil movement could be constructedbased upon the termite mortality in the soil sub-samples. The followingresults were recorded: TABLE 2 Soil Movement of The TermiticideBifenthrin Plus Adjuvant as Compared to Bifenthrin Alone Measured ByTermite Mortality Lateral Distance (cm) From Point of Application InWhich Termite Percent Mortality Counts Were Taken 0-5.1 5.1-10.210.2-15.2 15.2-20.3 20.3-25.4 Adjuvant Added: (i)¹ Depth of Soil (cm)  0-1.9 100% 100 100 100 35  1.9-3.8 100 100 100 100 0  3.8-5.7 100 100100 75 0  5.7-7.6 100 100 100 80 0  7.6-9.5 100 100 100 20 0  9.5-11.4100 75 0 0 0 11.4-13.3 100 5 0 0 0 13.3-15.2 0 0 0 0 0 Adjuvant Added:(ii)¹ Depth of Soil (cm)   0-1.9 100% 100 100 30 45  1.9-3.8 100 100 10010 0  3.8-5.7 100 100 100 20 20  5.7-7.6 100 100 100 5 15  7.6-9.5 100100 100 5 15  9.5-11.4 100 100 25 5 5 11.4-13.3 100 55 0 0 0 13.3-15.2 00 0 0 0 Adjuvant Added: (iii)¹ Depth of Soil (cm)   0-1.9 100% 100 10050 50  1.9-3.8 100 100 100 5 0  3.8-5.7 100 100 70 0 0  5.7-7.6 100 10065 5 0  7.6-9.5 90 45 5 0 0  9.5-11.4 5 0 0 0 0 11.4-13.3 0 0 0 0 0Adjuvant Added: None (Bifenthrin Alone) Death of Soil (cm)   0-1.9 100%100 65 25 25  1.9-3.8 100 100 100 10 0  3.8-5.7 100 100 25 0 0  5.7-7.6100 50 0 0 0  7.6-9.5 30 0 0 0 0  9.5-11.4 0 0 0 0 0The formulation used in these experiments to prepare the liquidinvertebrate pest control agent is sold under the name and trademark ofTalstar GC FLOWABLE INSECTICIDE/MITICIDE. The invertebrate pest controlagent in the formulation is bifenthrin. In each experiment the liquidinvertebrate pest control agent was applied at a rate equivalent# to 4 gallons of 0.06% a.i. bifenthrin/10 linear feet.¹The concentration of the adjuvant was 0.5% (V/V) of the amount ofliquid invertebrate pest control agent applied.

As set forth in Table 2 above, without addition of any adjuvant of thepresent invention to the liquid invertebrate pest control agentcontaining the Talstar GC Flowable formulation of the invertebrate pestcontrol agent bifenthrin, the bifenthrin moved across the soil surface(laterally) a total lateral diameter of 16.5 cm from the 5 cm treatmentarea. The bifenthrin moved downwardly to a depth of 7.6-10.2 cm and adiameter of 10.2 cm at the point of deepest penetration.

The addition of adjuvant (i) to the liquid invertebrate pest controlagent containing the Talstar GC Flowable formulation increased theoverall (downward and lateral) movement of bifenthrin by 30-40%. Byadding adjuvant (i), the total lateral surface diameter increased from15.2 cm to 25.4 cm and the depth of penetration increased from 7.6-10.2cm to 11.4-14.0 cm and a diameter of 10.2 cm at the point of deepestpenetration.

The addition of adjuvant (ii) to the liquid invertebrate pest controlagent containing the Talstar GC Flowable formulation increased theoverall movement of bifenthrin by 20-30%. By adding adjuvant (ii), thetotal lateral surface diameter increased from 15.2 cm to 24.1 cm and thedepth of penetration increased from 7.6-10.2 cm to 10.2-12.7 cm and adiameter of 10.2 cm at the point of deepest penetration.

The addition of adjuvant (iii) to the liquid invertebrate pest controlagent containing the Talstar GC Flowable formulation increased theoverall movement of bifenthrin by 20-25%. The addition of adjuvant (iii)increased the total lateral surface diameter from 15.2 cm to 24.1 cm,but the depth of penetration remained the same as bifenthrin alone.

The modifier “about” is used herein to indicate that certain preferredoperating ranges, such as ranges for material amounts, temperature, andthe like are not fixedly determined. The meaning will often be apparentto one of ordinary skill. For example, a recitation of a concentrationof about 0.1% to about 5% in reference to, for example, a soil-borneinvertebrate pesticidal composition would be interpreted to includeother like concentrations that can be expected to favor soil-borneinvertebrate pest control, such as 0.09% or 5.5%. Where guidance fromthe experience of those of ordinary skill is lacking, guidance from thecontext is lacking, and where a more specific rule is not recitedpresented below, the “about” range shall be not more than 10% of theabsolute value of an end point or 10% of the range recited, whichever isless. In the context of the present invention, the term “soil-borneinvertebrate pest control agent”, or “invertebrate pest control agent”refers to a “termiticide”, or to an “insecticide” useful for control ofsoil-borne insects other than termites, or to a “nematicide”; or to a“termiticide/insecticide/nematicide”; which in turn refers to the activechemical compound or ingredient, such as bifenthrin, that kills orrepels termites, soil-borne insects other than termites, and nematodes.The term “liquid invertebrate pest control agent” or “liquid soil-borneinvertebrate pest control agent” refers to a composition comprised of aformulation of an invertebrate pest control agent where the formulationcan be dispensed in an aqueous medium prior to its application to alocus where invertebrate pest control is desired. The term “adjuvant”refers to any emulsifier, surfactant, wetting agent, solvent, diluent,penetrant, or the like, which, when added to invertebrate pest controlagents, or to liquid invertebrate pest control agents comprised offormulations of invertebrate pest control agents, promotes movement ofthe invertebrate pest control agent in soil. The term “repellency”refers to driving back, warding off, or keeping soil-borne invertebratepests away through the use of an invertebrate pest control agent toprovide a suitable pest-controlling barrier. The terms “mortality”,“percent mortality”, “control”, or “percent control” may be usedinterchangeably, and refer to the killing of and/or repelling ofsoil-borne invertebrate pests.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that variations ofthe invention may be used and that it is intended that the invention maybe practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications encompassedwithin the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the followingclaims.

1. A composition comprised of a liquid soil-borne invertebrate pestcontrol agent and at least one adjuvant, wherein said liquidinvertebrate pest control agent is further comprised of at least oneinvertebrate pest control agent having a water solubility of about 3parts per million or less, and wherein said adjuvant promotes at least a20% increase in downward and lateral movement of said invertebrate pestcontrol agent in soil.
 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein saidsoil-borne invertebrate pest control agent is selected from fenvalerate,bifenthrin, permethrin, cypermethrin, chlorfenapyr, fipronyl,chlorpyrifos, deltamethrin, cyfluthrin, lambda cyhalothrin, gammacyhalohrin, tefluthrin, their isomers, and mixtures thereof.
 3. Thecomposition of claim 2, wherein said soil-borne invertebrate pestcontrol agent is selected from, bifenthrin, permethrin, fenvalerate,cypermethrin, deltamethrin, their isomers, and mixtures thereof.
 4. Thecomposition of claim 3, wherein said soil-borne invertebrate pestcontrol agent is bifenthrin.
 5. The composition of claim 1, wherein saidadjuvant promotes said increase in downward and lateral movement of saidsoil-borne invertebrate pest control agent in soil by at least 30%. 6.The composition of claim 1, wherein said at least one adjuvant isselected from (i) an emulsifier of 99%2,4,6-tris[1-(phenyl)ethyl]phenyl-omega-hydroxy-poly(oxyethylene)sulphate,(ii) a nonionic surfactant of 100% perfluoroalkylethanol, (iv) anonionic surfactant of modified polysiloxane polyether, (v) a non-ionicsurfactant blend of alkyloxypolyethyleneoxyethanols of the formulaCH₃CH[(CH₂)_(n)CH₃][O(C₂H₄O)_(n)H] where n is 9-15, and m is 3-40, (vi)a silicone surfactant 100% blend of2-(3-hydroxypropyl)heptamethyltrisiloxane, ethoxylated acetate,allyloxypolyethylene glycol monally1 acetate, and polyethylene glycoldiacetate, (vii) a biodegradable, low-foaming, non-ionic surfactant andpenetrant containing primary alkyl polyoxyethylene ether and free fattyacids and adjuvants, (viii) a nonionic surfactant blend of soybean basedfatty acid and alcohol ethoxylates, (ix) an anionic surfactant blend of58% ammonium linear alcohol ether sulfate, (x) an anionic surfactantblend of 58% ammonium nonylphenol ether sulfate, (xi) a blend ofpolyalkyleneoxide, modified polydimethylsiloxane, and nonionicsurfactants, (xii) a nonionic detergent of 100% polyoxyethylene(10)isooctylcyclohexyl ether, and mixtures thereof.
 7. The composition ofclaim 6, wherein said at least one adjuvant is selected from (i) anemulsifier of 99%2,4,6-tris[1-(phenyl)ethyl]phenyl-omega-hydroxy-poly(oxyethylene)sulphate,(ii) a nonionic surfactant of 100% perfluoroalkylethanol, (iv) anonionic surfactant of modified polysiloxane polyether, (v) a non-ionicsurfactant blend of alkyloxypolyethyleneoxyethanols of the formulaCH₃CH[(CH₂)_(n)CH₃][O(C₂H₄₀)_(m)H] where n is 9-15, and m is 3-40, (vi)a silicone surfactant 100% blend of2-(3-hydroxypropyl)heptamethyltrisiloxane, ethoxylated acetate,allyloxypolyethylene glycol monally1 acetate, and polyethylene glycoldiacetate, (x) an anionic surfactant blend of 58% ammonium nonylphenolether sulfate, (xi) a blend of polyalkyleneoxide, modifiedpolydimethylsiloxane, and nonionic surfactants, (xii) a nonionicdetergent of 100% polyoxyethylene(10) isooctylcyclohexyl ether, andmixtures thereof.
 8. The composition of claim 7, wherein said at leastone adjuvant is selected from (i) an emulsifier of 99%2,4,6-tris[1-(phenyl)ethyl]phenyl-omega-hydroxy-poly(oxyethylene)sulphate,(ii) a nonionic surfactant of 100% perfluoroalkylethanol, and (xi) ablend of polyalkyleneoxide, modified polydimethylsiloxane, and nonionicsurfactants, and mixtures thereof.
 9. The composition of claim 1,comprised of about 0.001% to about 30% by volume of said adjuvant. 10.The composition of claim 9, comprised of about 0.01% to about 5% of saidadjuvant.
 11. The composition of claim 10, comprised of about 0.08% toabout 3% of said adjuvant.
 12. The composition of claim 1, wherein saidsoil-borne invertebrate pest control agent is bifenthrin, said at leastone adjuvant is selected from (i) an emulsifier of 99%2,4,6-tris[1-(phenyl)ethyl]phenyl-omega-hydroxy-poly(oxyethylene)sulphate,(ii) a nonionic surfactant of 100% perfluoroalkylethanol, and (xi) ablend of polyalkyleneoxide, modified polydimethylsiloxane, and nonionicsurfactants, and mixtures thereof, where the concentration of theadjuvant is about 0.08% to about 3% by volume.
 13. The composition ofclaim 12, wherein said adjuvant is (i) an emulsifier of 99%2,4,6-tris[1-(phenyl)ethyl]phenyl-omega-hydroxy-poly(oxyethylene)sulphate.14. A method for the control of soil-borne invertebrate pests,comprising applying a pesticidally effective amount of a composition ofclaim 1 to a locus where soil-borne invertebrate pest control is needed.15. A method for the control of soil-borne invertebrate pests,comprising applying a pesticidally effective amount of a composition ofclaim 12 to a locus where soil-borne invertebrate pest control isneeded.
 16. A method for the control of soil-borne invertebrate pests,comprising applying a pesticidally-effective amount of a composition ofclaim 13 to a locus where soil-borne pest control is needed.
 17. Themethod of claim 14, wherein said soil-borne invertebrate pests arecomprised of termites, nematodes, corn rootworms, and wireworms.
 18. Themethod of claim 15, wherein said soil-borne invertebrate pests arecomprised of termites, nematodes, corn rootworms, and wireworms.
 19. Themethod of claim 16, wherein said soil-borne invertebrate pests arecomprised of termites, nematodes, corn rootworms, and wireworms.
 20. Themethod of claim 17, wherein said soil-borne invertebrate pests aretermites, wherein termite tunneling in soil is reduced by at least 40%.21. The method of claim 18, wherein said soil-borne invertebrate pestsare termites, wherein termite tunneling in soil is reduced by at least48%.
 22. The method of claim 19, wherein said soil-borne invertebratepests are termites, wherein termite tunneling in soil is reduced by atleast 58%.